Non-slip towel

ABSTRACT

An exercise accessory, for example a towel for Yoga, includes a fabric layer having a length, a width, a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The exercise accessory may also include a center line disposed along a length of the second side substantially in a middle of the width of the fabric layer; and a transverse line on the second side substantially bisecting the center line. The first side includes at least one strip made of a high-friction material deposited thereon which is configured to grip a surface during an exercise. The high-friction material may also be disposed on the second side of the accessory.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a non-slip towel for exercise,particularly while performing Yoga, Pilates, weightlifting, stretch andother mat-based exercises.

Yoga and Pilates are exercises that involve balancing and stretchingmovements. In the past, while performing these exercises, the exercisertypically stood barefoot on a thin, rubberized mat. The mat served toprevent the exerciser from slipping while performing the exercises.

Certain types of Yoga, such as hot Yoga, are performed in hot and humidconditions which cause a significant amount of perspiration to drip fromthe body. Other exercise activities also result in significantperspiration. Such perspiring onto conventional exercise mats causes themat surface to become slippery, as these conventional mats do notreadily absorb perspiration. Wet exercise mats cause discomfort for theuser, and increase the chances of injury resulting from slipping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front side of a towel.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back side of the towel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the towel of FIG. 1 in a partiallyfolded state and positioned on a Yoga mat.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative front side of the towelof FIG. 1.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a towel 10 including a front side 20, a backside 30 opposite the front side 20, a length 11, and a width 12. Theillustrated towel 10 may be referred to as a long towel and the length11 can be approximately equal to a height of an exerciser. An exemplarylength 11 is six feet. However, the towel 10 may have other lengths asappropriate for various sizes of exercisers or other applications. Thetowel 10 may have substantially any suitable width 12, thickness, weave,knap length, or color. The towel 10 can be made from a variety ofmaterials including cotton, acrylic, and various synthetic blends. Thetowel 10 may include a strap (not shown) to facilitate transport, asdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/028,328, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In one embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the front side 20 of the towel 10includes a center line 21 drawn on the surface thereof and extendingalong the length 11 of the towel 10. The center line 21 is substantiallycentered along the width 12. The center line 21 helps the exerciserattain proper body alignment during certain exercises. The front side 20of the illustrated towel 10 also includes a transverse line 22substantially bisecting the center line 21 substantially at a midpoint23 of the length 11 of the towel 10. Thus, the center line 21 andtransverse line 22 form a cross or t-shape. The intersection of thecenter line 21 and the transverse line 22 is substantially a midpoint 23of the towel 10 in both the length 11 and width 12 directions. Thenumber of center lines 21 and transverse lines 22 is not limited to oneeach. Other configurations of center lines 21 and transverse lines 22are possible, including two or more center lines 21 parallel to eachother, or transverse lines 22 placed at one or both of the ends of thecenter line 21. Alternative embodiments of the towel 10 may omit one ormore of the lines 21, 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the back side 30 of the towel 10 includes at leastone area of high-friction material 35 deposited thereon. The back side30 of the towel 10 with the high-friction material 35 is placed on andfaces a surface 1 on which an exercise is to be performed, such as afloor 1 shown in FIGS. 1-2 or Yoga mat 3 shown in FIG. 3. Thehigh-friction material 35 of the towel 10 keeps the towel flat andsubstantially uniform on the floor 1 by reducing or eliminatingslippage, rippling, or bunching of the towel 10 as the user exercisesthereon.

The back side 30 of the towel 10 includes a first area 36 ofhigh-friction material 35 positioned substantially adjacent to each endof the towel 10 and a second area 37 of high-friction material 35positioned substantially in the middle of the towel 10. Of course, thehigh-friction material areas are not limited to the ends or middle ofthe back side 30. For example, in alternative embodiments, high-frictionmaterial 35 could be disposed along an entire perimeter of the back side30 of the towel. Two or more high-friction material 35 areas, forexample, near the ends or the middle of the back side 30, could bedisposed extending along the length, width, or other directions. Thesehigh-friction material 35 areas could extend parallel to each other, orform, by way of example and without limitation, I, H, X, t, or othershapes. As would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art,numerous other arrangements of high-friction material 35 areas arepossible in accordance with the present invention.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the first and second areas 36, 37 ofhigh-friction material 35 have a generally rectangular shape with wavyedges 38. However, other shapes for the areas 36, 37 are possible. Theareas 36, 37 could have straight or rounded edges. The areas could alsohave square, circle, or oval shapes. The edges could be formed of solidlines, dashed lines, zig-zag lines, or other patterns.

As shown in FIG. 4, the front side 20 of the towel 10 may also includehigh-friction material 35 areas. During certain exercises which producea large amount of perspiration, such as hot Yoga, an exerciser's handsor feet may slip while placed on the front side 20 of the towel 10.Thus, high-friction material 35 areas on the front side 20 of the towel10 provide a location for the exerciser to place her hands or feet toprevent slippage. The high-friction material 35 areas on the front side20 of the towel 10 are preferably placed at least near one or both ofthe ends of the length 11 of the towel. However, additional areas ofhigh-friction material 35 could also be disposed in middle portions ofthe front side 20. The high-friction material 35 areas on the front side20 of the towel 10 are not limited in number, size, shape, or spacing.

The non-slip, high-friction material 35 can be any rubbery substancemade from any material such as rubber, plastic, PVC, silica gel, or anyother substance that creates a high-friction, non-slip finish. Forexample, the high-friction material 35 can include PVC vinyl materialwhich, may be made from the same material used in forming Yoga stickymats, which material is referred to as a “closed cell PVC vinylmaterial—100% latex free.” This material is also referred to as a vinylsponge foam material. Other high-friction rubbery materials may be usedin place of the PVC vinyl material. The high-friction material 35preferably forms a smooth finish without projections.

To perform a floor exercise with the towel 10, the exerciser firstplaces the towel 10 on a surface such as a floor 1 or Yoga mat 3, andthen positions the towel 10 on the surface with the back side 30 facingthe surface. The exerciser then positions her body on the front side 20of the towel 10, and may use the center line 21 and transverse line 22to aid in proper alignment of her body. The exercise is then performedwhile the areas 36, 37 on the back side 30 of the towel reduce oreliminate slippage or bunching of the towel 10 on the surface. Duringthis time, the exerciser may also place her hands and/or feet onhigh-friction material 35 areas on the front side 20 of the towel 10 toprevent slippage of the hands and/or feet with respect to the towel 10.

While embodiments of the invention disclosed herein describe long towelshaving a high-friction material on one side thereof, one skilled in artshould recognize that alternative configurations may be employed withoutdeviating from the scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. An exercise accessory, comprising: a fabric layer having alength, a width, a first side and a second side opposite the first side;a center line disposed along a length of the second side substantiallyin a middle of the width of the fabric layer; and a transverse line onthe second side substantially bisecting the center line, wherein thefirst side includes at least one strip made of a high-friction materialdeposited thereon and configured to grip a surface during an exercise.2. The exercise accessory of claim 1, wherein the fabric layer includesa towel.
 3. The exercise accessory of claim 1, wherein the fabric layeris made of a sweat absorbing material.
 4. The exercise accessory ofclaim 1, wherein the first side includes the strip of the high frictionmaterial near at least one end along the length of the fabric layer. 5.The exercise accessory of claim 1, wherein the first side includes thestrip of the high friction material substantially in a middle of thelength of the fabric layer.
 6. The exercise accessory of claim 1,wherein the second side includes an additional line substantiallyparallel to the center line.
 7. The exercise accessory of claim 1,wherein the high-friction material includes rubber, plastic, polyvinylchloride (PVC), or silica.
 8. The exercise accessory of claim 1, whereinthe exercise accessory is approximately six feet in length.
 9. Anexercise accessory, comprising: a fabric layer having a length, a width,a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein thefirst and second sides each include at least one strip made ofhigh-friction material deposited thereon and configured to grip asurface during an exercise.
 10. The exercise accessory of claim 9,wherein the second side includes the strip of the high friction materialnear at least one end of the length of the fabric layer.
 11. Theexercise accessory of claim 9, further comprising a center line disposedalong a length of the second side substantially.
 12. The exerciseaccessory of claim 11, further comprising a transverse line on thesecond side substantially bisecting the center line.
 13. The exerciseaccessory of claim 9, wherein the first side includes the strip of thehigh friction material substantially in a middle of the length of thefabric layer.
 14. The exercise accessory of claim 9, wherein the secondside includes an additional line substantially parallel to the centerline.
 15. The exercise accessory of claim 9, wherein the high-frictionmaterial includes rubber, plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or silica.16. The exercise accessory of claim 9, wherein the exercise accessory isapproximately six feet in length.